Improvement in automatic attachments for keyed musical instruments



H. DOWNES.

Improvement in Automatic Attachments for Keyed Musical Instruments.

N0. 115,286, Patented May 30,1871.

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UNITED STATES HARRISON DOWNES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENTS FOR KEYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,286, dated May 30,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON DOWNES, of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved AutomaticAttachment for Keyed Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare thatthe follo ing is a clear, full, and exact description thereof, whichwill enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same,reference being had to the drawing accompanyin g and forming a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of m r automaticattachment. Figs. 2, 3, and 4c are side views of parts detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new and improved device for producingautomatic music upon a melodeon, piano, organ, or other keyedinstrument; and consists in an arrangement of raised surfacescorresponding in length and position to the notes of music; also, a setof feelers or elbows, connected to fingers in such a way that whenproperly attached to they key-board a depression of one of the feelersproduces a corresponding depression of the finger, and so of the key.The tune-board being moved over the feelers by a spring or otherconvenient means, the projections upon its'surface strike the feelers atproper intervals, depressing the corresponding keys and producing thetune. This device produces any tune desired, the tunc-board only beingchanged. It is simple, inexpensive, and cifectual, dispensing with theservices of a skilled performer for public worship or private entertainment, and maybe made to reproduce with great accuracy new anddifficult pieces.

A is a plate attached to the key-board of the instrument to be operatedupon. I) b b b are levers or buttons, corresponding in number andposition to the keys of the instrument, I) b being raised to rest uponthe black keys to produce sharps and flats. c is a table fast ened tothe under side of the table 0 in such a way that their points 0 0 riseabove the surface of the table. These feelers d d are pivoted at f andconnected to the corresponding buttons or levers I) b by any suitablesubstance, as wires or inelastic cords, g g. h is the tuneplate, withprojections i iupon its surface corresponding to the notes of a tune. itis a feeler, to be connected, by the cord or wire I, to the swell of theinstrument. or is a raised surface for actuating the fceler It.

To operate with this device the plate A is placed upon the key-board,and a tune-board, It, being selected, is placed upon the table a andcaused to move uniformly over the feelers d d. The projections i i,successively striking the points of the feelers c c, depress them, and acorresponding motion is communicated, through the connections 9 g, tothe levers or buttons b I), and so to the keys of the instrument. Theprojection m on the tune-plate 7:, raising or lowering the feeler L inconnection with the swell of the instrument, governs the volume ofsound.

Having described my invention and its op eration, I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The feelers or elbows (Z d, inconnection with the wires or cords g g and the lovers or buttons 1) b,and with the plate h having the projections 'i '5, arranged andoperating sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The feeler L, in connection with the connecting wire or cord I andthe projection m. arranged and operating substantially as and for thepurpose herein specified.

HARRISON DOWNES.

Witnesses:

Ons. W. TliOMAs, J OIIN OALAHAN.

